Ikea monkey-supporter risks losing her pet primate, too

Yasmin Nakhuda has gone to court to win custody of Darwin, a monkey now in the care of handlers at the Story Book Farm Primate Sanctuary. Nakhuda dismisses accusations that she and her family abused Darwin. The allegations are contained in court papers filed by the sanctuary. (Family photo)

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An Ontario woman pushing for the return of Darwin the Ikea monkey to its owner is now on the cusp of losing her own pet primate because of local bylaws prohibiting exotic animals as pets.

The Township of Brock is poised to move in on Beaverton resident Kelly Snooks, who keeps at her home five-year-old JoJo, a macaque monkey similar to Darwin, the young primate that became a sensation after it was found in an Ikea store parking lot in Toronto. City officials turned Darwin over to Story Book Farm Primate Sanctuary, also located in Brock township, because it’s illegal to have such a pet in Toronto.

Darwin’s owner, Yasmin Nakhuda, and the sanctuary are set to battle it out in court over who gets to keep the monkey. Snooks and several others who support Nakhuda sent a petition on Wednesday to Brock township officials denouncing Story Book and calling for it to be refused a licence it had to apply for after the township passed its own exotic-animal bylaw in February 2012.

Brock township Mayor Terry Clayton, who said it is illegal for Snooks to keep JoJo at her home, said officials are set to move in.

“It’s happening, (and) they are looking into this issue with Kelly Snooks -- significantly,” Clayton said, adding that Snooks’ petition is simply to “discredit” Story Book Farm.

“We’ve been after her for some time ... for having this monkey and not securing it. It’s been in her backyard ... a block from (a) school.”

The Township of Brock would have to request the Ontario SPCA step in to take the animal, Clayton said. However, he wouldn’t say if a request has already been made -- mostly out of fear Snooks would hide the animal, something he claims she’s done before.

A source told QMI Agency officials were looking to make a move immediately.

Clayton also said JoJo, like Darwin, would likely be taken to Story Book, located in Sunderland. He acknowledged that if Snooks puts up a legal fight, it could turn into a court battle “like (Darwin) the Ikea monkey.”

A defiant Snooks says she will move JoJo if she has to.

“I have other property and I’ve already moved a (monkey) enclosure to that property, where there is no bylaw,” she said, adding that the Township of Brock hasn’t even handed her a bylaw infraction notice yet.

Ikea monkey-supporter risks losing her pet primate, too

An Ontario woman pushing for the return of Darwin the Ikea monkey to its owner is now on the cusp of losing her own pet primate because of local bylaws prohibiting exotic animals as pets.

The Township of Brock is poised to move in on Beaverton resident Kelly Snooks, who keeps at her home five-year-old JoJo, a macaque monkey similar to Darwin, the young primate that became a sensation after it was found in an Ikea store parking lot in Toronto. City officials turned Darwin over to Story Book Farm Primate Sanctuary, also located in Brock township, because it’s illegal to have such a pet in Toronto.